Last Updated on : December 6th, 2025

High-quality art supplies provide unique and inspiring creative experiences for professional artists as well as anyone just beginning their artistic journey.

This time, we are featuring items that are perfect for gifting from PIGMENT TOKYO’s specially selected art materials and tools. We offer international shipping, so you can easily get your favorite items through our online shop.

Art supplies that bring new inspiration make a wonderful gift for your loved ones or even for yourself ! 

Sumi Ink Sticks

At PIGMENT TOKYO, we offer a wide selection of sumi ink sticks, ranging from rare koboku (vintage ink sticks) to daiji-zumi (ink sticks designed by renowned calligraphers), as well as our unique selection of Twelve Horary Sign Ink Sticks.

The Japanese twelve horary signs* originated in ancient China and have been used to represent calendar, time, and directions. In Japan, they are still used today as a twelve-year cycle of symbolic animals. 

Each “Twelve Horary Sign Ink Sticks” is engraved  with the pictograph of its corresponding animal, and the ink color varies slightly depending on the type.

Please take a closer look at them when you visit our store!

*The twelve animal signs exist in many Asian countries, but the animals are slightly different depending on the country.

Japanese twelve-year cycle of animals is: Rat (子), Ox (丑), Tiger (寅), Rabbit (卯), Dragon (辰), Snake (巳), Horse (午), Sheep (未), Monkey (申), Rooster (酉), Dog (戌), and Boar (亥).

In addition, the calligraphy carved on this ink stick reads “Boku-un-mu-kyou (墨運無彊),” which is a wish that one’s fortune and talent in the path of calligraphy and the arts may continue endlessly.

At the beginning of the year, slowly grinding and preparing sumi ink is a nice quiet moment to envision your year ahead and reflect on your intentions for art practice.

You may enjoy a rich, meditative experience, surrounded by the relaxing aroma of sumi ink and gentle sound created as the ink stick is ground on the inkstone.

Watercolors

Ezumi (Watercolors)

“Ezumi Yuki” was newly released through a collaborative project between Nakagawa Gofun Enogu Co., Ltd. and Boku-Undo Co., Ltd.

The soft color palette, reminiscent of a snowy landscape, is created through a delicate balance of the unique characteristics of sumi ink and gofun shell pigment.

Gansai Tambi (Watercolors)

Gansai Tambi is a series of solid watercolor pans, popular for their vivid colors and ease of dissolving in water. This limited edition set includes some exclusive shades, as well as brilliant metallic and pearl colors.

By adjusting the amount of water, you can create a wide range of tones, from intense to soft and translucent washes, allowing for free and expressive painting.

We also offer additional sets featuring easy-to-use colors and opal shades.

Harmonia (Watercolors)

Harmonia is a series of special types of transparent watercolor. What makes this series unique is that when a single paint is spread with a wet brush, two or more colors appear. True to its name, which comes from “harmony,” the colors create beautiful gradations and a magical effect.

From blues reminiscent of a winter night sky to oranges evoking a sunset, each shade carries a sense of atmosphere that sparks your creativity.

Individual paints are also available, allowing you to freely choose your favorite colors.

In this article, you can learn more about the story behind the creation of Harmonia paints and what makes them unique.

Oil Paints

Oil Paint Sets

These oil paints are made with premium-grade pigments, which are suitable for everyone from beginners to professional artists.

Mino Artists' Oil Colour is known for smooth texture, rich, luminous colors, and elegant sheen.

The colors keep their saturation even mixed with others or diluted with oils because of their high pigmentation.

Moreover, Fluorescent Artists' Oil Colours offer exceptional saturation and brightness, making them perfect for mixing, adding accent colors, or as a base layer to enhance the overall vibrancy of your artwork.

Mino Artists' Oil Colours are also available as individual tubes.

This article introduces colors made from natural pigments and the textures of the paints.

Oil Sticks

These are stick-type oil paints made by binding high-quality pigments with oil and wax. They can be used directly on primed canvas, and can also be applied over oil paints, making them a perfect addition to oil painting.In addition to conventional oil painting techniques, they allow for intuitive expression, such as drawing bold, crayon-like strokes without using brushes.

In addition, the oil sticks can be used with oil mediums such as turpentine or painting oils to increase their transparency and gloss.

For mediums for oil painting, please check here.

【Difference Between Oil Sticks and Oil Pastels】

Oil Sticks

Like oil paints, oil sticks are made with pigments and a drying-oil base, allowing them to slowly solidify after drying. Fixative sprays are not necessary, but finished artworks can be protected with an oil painting varnish after completely dried. Colors can be layered on top once the underlying layers are dry.

Oil Pastels

Oil pastels are made with pigments, a small amount of oil and wax, and a non-drying binder, so they never fully dry. Therefore, it is recommended to use a fixative spray to protect your finished work.

When applying one color over another, the colors blend with the underlying layers, creating rich, mixed effects.

Pastels

Gondola Pastel (Soft Pastels)

Gondola Pastels are soft pastels made by binding powdered pigments with a small amount of water-based binder. They have been carefully handcrafted for over 100 years by OHKAN KAGAKU GOGYOSYO in Kyoto.

The colors have a soft elegance that matches the delicate color sensibility of Japanese people. Moreover, when water is applied with a brush over areas colored with the pastels, the colors spread on the paper like watercolor.

Since they have low adhesion to paper and other surfaces, it is recommended to use a fixative spray, such as a Spray Handy Pastel Fixative, to preserve artworks.

There are various sets available, ranging from 48 to 242 colors.

Oil Pastels

These oil pastels use high-quality wax and a non-drying binder, giving them a smooth, buttery texture. The high pigment concentration allows for vivid and intense colors.

They can be used on a wide range of surfaces, including cardboard, wood, plywood, ceramics, plaster, metal, plastic, and glass. Since the drawing surface does not fully dry, it is recommended to use a fixative spray for oil pastels if you want to secure your work.

If you are interested in examples of how to use different pastels, please check this article.

Tools

Bunbou-Gohou 文房五寶 (Five Treasures of the Study)

Adding a glass pen to the traditional “Four Treasures of the Study” (brush, sumi ink, inkstone, and paper), the “Five Treasures of the Study, ” named Bunbou-Gohou was created.

Kuretake Co., Ltd., which preserves the traditional techniques of sumi ink making, has produced a refined set of art supplies that combines Japanese craftsmanship and aesthetics, adapted for modern life.

For more details about this special item, please see our article below.

You can enjoy the sound of grinding sumi ink, the texture of the materials, and the pleasant feel of brushes or pens touching on washi paper. It can be a precious experience to awaken your senses and take time to appreciate the deep and profound world of handwriting.

Reference

OHKAN KAGAKU GOGYOSYO

　GONDOLA POSTEL

KUSAKABE CORPORATION
　Harmonia Watercolors (Japanese only)

　Oil paints (Product Information )  (Japanese only)

Editor & Writer

Natsuko Shiraishi

Graduated from the Textile Design at Tama Art University. She is an artist who mainly works with original Washi paper and calligraphy.

Favorite matière: Paper, dynamic moves of wood fiber

Graduated from the Textile Design at Tama Art University. She is an artist who mainly works with original Washi paper and calligraphy.

Favorite matière: Paper, dynamic moves of wood fiber

Writer

Myu Hanaoka

Graduated with a BFA in Japanese painting from Hiroshima City University and completed her MFA in Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts.
Her art practice is based on "rethinking identities of lands and cultures” using traditional Japanese painting techniques.
Favorite matière: Traces of damage, loss, and repair accumulated on the painting surfaces caused by the environment surrounding the paintings.

Graduated with a BFA in Japanese painting from Hiroshima City University and completed her MFA in Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts.
Her art practice is based on "rethinking identities of lands and cultures” using traditional Japanese painting techniques.
Favorite matière: Traces of damage, loss, and repair accumulated on the painting surfaces caused by the environment surrounding the paintings.

Translator

Atsumi Okano

Completed her post-baccalaureate program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Painting and Drawing.
While working with PIGMENT ARTICLES mainly as a translator, she also creates paintings and installations with translucent materials as an artist.

Favorite matière: Interaction of intentionality and coincidence created by the layers of transparent materials and colors.

Completed her post-baccalaureate program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Painting and Drawing.
While working with PIGMENT ARTICLES mainly as a translator, she also creates paintings and installations with translucent materials as an artist.

Favorite matière: Interaction of intentionality and coincidence created by the layers of transparent materials and colors.